Press



R. J. JACKERv oct. 9, 1934.

. PRESS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, '195o ATTORN EYS rL-l 2unoperated position at the end of a pressing op- Ithe work supporting bed is. relatively small and pressurev Thus, a quick operating` press maybe Patented 9ct. 9, i934 Nr eric PRESS Richard J. Jacker, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Dhic, a corporation of Ohio Application November 8, 1930, Serial No. 494,269

9 Claims.v

My invention relates to pressing machines and, particularly, to operating mechanism for a pressing machine including a work supporting bed and a head movable into cooperative relation to cause the pressing action.

In presses of this type, the pressing head is normally separated a sunicient distance from the work supporting bed so that work may be conveniently placed thereon or removed. therefrom and with suiicient space between the pressing head and work supporting bed to permit clear visibility 'of the pressing bed or the work thereon when the bed and head are outof cooperative relation and the machine is not in operation. The actual pressing action takes place at the iinal movement of the pressing head to exert pressure on the 'pressing bed-as it'hasmoved into cooperating relation therewith and it is at this period of the operation that the actual high pressure isapplied, the greater part of the movement of the head requiring only sufficient moving force to overcome the force exertedby springs or other means employed to return the head to its open eration.

vOne object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism` for a pressing machine of the above type wherein the initial moving force for moving the head into cooperative relation with takes place only a comparatively short length of time yet the head of the press will be moved through the usual long arc about a pivot and be forced to its nal position under a very high provided'. Y

Another object of my inventionis to provide anoperating mechanism whereby the shortest stroke possible of the part which causes operation lor pressing engagement of the head withthe bed will give the desired result and to make a simple and durable devicewhich will permit economy of force required to produce the desired result.

rIhe mechanism by which I attain the above ymentioned and other objects of my invention consiste, in this instance, of a very short arm or connection relative to the pivoted arm on which a pressing head is mounted and a very long arm, both arms being integral parts of the arm carrying thepressing head and swinging about a common pivot. Initial movement of the part which causes pressing engagement of the head and bed, for instance, a pedal or a fluid pressure cylinder and piston, acts on the pressing head through the very short arm to move the head-into cooper.- ativerelation with the pressing bed and the final movement of the part causing the pressing opera-A tion acts on the pressing head through the verylong arm. That is, the movement of the operatingv part is transferred from the very short arm to the very long arm during the time the movement of the pressing head is taking place. v l

Various other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawings'wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side View, partly in section, of a pressing machine embodying my invention and showing the pressing head in open or unoperatedv position relative to the pressing bed; and Fig.- 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the pressing head in closed or operated position with relation to the pressing bed.

Referring to the drawings, I have show-n one embodiment of my invention as comprising a buck 1, which, as usual, is rigidly securedto the top of a standard or Vframe 2 provided with rearwardly and upwardly extending supports 3 at` the upper end of which is secured a cross shaft 4. A hub 5 having three radiating arms 6, 'land 8- is pivotally mounted'on the shaft 4, the arms 6v and 7 being bifurcated to avoid interference with centrally located operating mechanism and to add rigidity thereto. The usual pressing head 9 is mounted on the extremity of the arm Y6 in such position that the lower surfaces of the pressing'head 9 will Vregister with the top of the buck l when the head is in its loweredor closed position as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that the arm 8 is substantially shorter than the arms 6 and 7 and is provided with a perforation or substantially vertically eX- tending opening adjacent its outer extremity. Likewise, it will be noted that the arm 7 is substantially longer than either of the arms 6 or 8 and has a pair of links 10 pivotally connected to its free end as atv 11. 1G are, in turn, pivotally connected to the freeend of an arm 12 as at 13 and the other end of the arm l2, is, in turn, pivotally connected as at 14 to the lower part of the frame 2. The arm 12 takes substantially the form of a bell crank and- 105 AThe free ends of the links Fig. l to hold the pressing head 9 in open or unllc operated position as will be hereinafter described.

As will be clearly apparent, the links i form one-half of a toggle structure while the arm 12 forms the other half of the same toggle which is 5 disposed between the frame 2 and the free end of the relatively long arm 7. The arrangement of the parts is such that the toggle is in a substantially straight line between the pivot point 14 and the pivotal connection 11 when the pressing head 9 is tightly against the buck 1. Therefore, a small amount of pressure downwardly on the pivot 13 will cause a relatively great pressure downwardly on the buck 1 by the pressing head 9 as will be clearly seen in Fig. 2. This is due, primarily, to the ratio oixlength of vthe arms 5 and 7.

The operating means for Amoving the pressing head 9 into engagement with thebuck 1 and causing the pressing operation to take place, -in this instance, consists of a compressed air cylinder 13 thatis'r'igidly'secured to the upper portion of the frameZ with its piston rod 19 extend'ng downwardly. The lower end'oij the piston rod 19 is pivotally connected as at 20 to a bell crank lever 21and the iree end of the short arin of such bell c'r'ankleverhas pivotally connected thereto as at 22 the Elower ends of duplicate links 23 whose upper ends are pivotally 'connected at 24 to a rod V25 that passes upwardly through the per- :foration or opening adjacent the extremity of the short arm A8. Such rod 25 is provided with ahead 26 somedistance above the upper surfe ces of the short Yarm '3 and a coiled expan.A ng spring 27 is interposed-between the head 26 and 5 the 'upper-surface of the arm.

shown in iFigs. land 2, the end ofthe longer arm of the 'fbell'crank lever 21 is so disposed and arrangedas `to contact with an extension 23 on `the `arm V12 and yextending beyond thepivotal connect-ion 113 vbetween the arm 12 andthe links 10. However, the lower end of the bell crank lever L21 vonly contacts Ywith extension 28 on the arm i12 Awhen lthe bell crank lever is in its lower- `most lmoving vposition as shown in Fig. 2 due to `theiactifnat the lower end ofthe bell crank lever is L`guided 'outwardly on being moved downwardly by ia `vcam. surface 29 disposed yon the frame 2. 'I-hespring 27,'.beingunder tension, exerts a constarrt pullupwardlyfon the links'23, which, being connected to the short arm or the bell crank lever 21, will causethe free end of the long arm of the bell'orank 'lever `to be constantly forced againstA the cam-surface 29.

=Infthe operation .of this apparatus, assuming Itlfieipressing head 9 tofbe in opened or unoperated position as shOWn'inFig. 1, agarinent is placed on the pressing bed 1 with the proper lay, a shield 3'0 being provided `to= prevent the garment from vcontacting with any of the operating mechalnism, and airpressure is admitted'to the cylinder 1-8 `as-byvway of the conduit 31 by reason or" opening a4 valve 82. -Air pressure being admitted above the piston in `the-cylinder 18 .will cause downward movement of -the'piston rod and the bell crank 21. Likewise, it will cause downward movement of the links 23 which, through the spring 2-7, will move the short arm 8 downwardly in an arc about'its pivot and thus move the pressing head9 down into engagement with the pressing bed f1. 'Thelength ratio betweenthe short arm 3 andthe'arm 6 :is `such as to cause a large degree of lmovement of the vhead 9 with a small degree of movement of the arm `3.

Such-*downward movement of the pressing head 9 williresult in an outward movement ofthe free end or the arm 'l and a substantial straightening of the toggle mechanism made up of the links 1i) and arm 12. This is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The downward movement of the piston rod 19 will also cause the tree end of long arm of the bell crank 21 to be moved outwardly until it is in a position to contact with the extension 28 of the arm 12 that is brought under the long end of the bell crank lever arm by the substantial straightening of the toggle. This final pressure move- .ment of the operating part will be transferred from the short arm 8 to the long arm 7. Then, the iinal downward movement of the piston rod 19 will be directly exerted through the bell crank lever 21 against the extension 28 of the arm 12 to force the toggle still nearer a straight line and thus exert a large amount oi pressure in proportion to the downward force of the piston to the right against the free end of the long arm 'l which will, in turn, exert still greater pressure on the pressing bed or buck 1`by the pressing head9 due to the ratio of the length of the arms '"6 and 7. bviously, as shown in Fig. '2, the spring27 provides for the downward .movement oi vthe piston rod 19 to cause pressure between the head and bed as hereinbefore described without breakage :of parts. After the pressing operation, a valve '.32 may be operated to permit-.pressure Yto be exhausted from above t1 .e piston in thecylinder 18 whereupon the toggle, Varms and pressing head 9 will' be returned to their normal open or unoperated position by t e` spring 16 Vas will :be readily apparent.

Referring tothe drawings and the preceding description, it will be seen that 1 have provided a machine embodying numerous novel andi-ad-l vantageous features. For instance, f1 have provided a pressing machine embodying operating mechanism such that the pressing head may be moved into cooperative Vrelation with theipressing bed or buck by theexpenditure Vof a small amount of energy together with a means for exerting a high pressure on 4the pressing bed or buck by the pressing head with the expenditure of a small amount of energy and movement` or" the operating vparts through a ,short distance. This is primarily accomplished .by ,the use of a plurality of arms and links-whose length `ratio .is such as to cause a large degree of ,movement of one armor link by a relatively small .movement of another arm or link, or a system ofarmsand links wherein .a small amount kof energy and sinalldegree of movement of onearm or-.link will cause a large amount vof force to .beexerted by an arm or link moved thereby. Thus, very little energy need be expended to cause movement of the operating parts throughout a substantial distance and a high degree of pressure between the pressing elements, the last pressure being what is commonly .termed as the nal pressure or squeeze,

Another novel and advantageous feature of my invention resides in the fact that I have provided a pressing machine embodying the usual work receiving bed and a pressing headnormally in separated or full open position, and operating mechanism for moving the head into pressing relation with the bed and causing `a final pressure or squeeze therebetween, consisting of a single motor means and associated mechanismfor moving thehead into initial engagement with'tne bed and with such movement providing an operative connection between the singlemotor'means other associated parts for causing aiinal pressure or squeeze between the `lleadgand bed.

between the last named head moving arm and said` Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a pressing machine in which a single motor means is effective to cause initial engagementl of the pressing heard and bed and then cause a nal pressure o'r squeeze therebetween, the operation ofv the mechanism for causing the final pressure or squeeze being dependent on the operation of the mechanism for causing initial engagement of the head and bed.

What I claim is: I

1. In a pressing machine embodying a work receiving bed and a pressing head normally in separated or full open position, operating mechanism including a single motor means and associated parts for moving said head into initial engagement with said bed, a toggle mechanism also'associated with said head moving means, said toggle mechanism being normally ineffective as a head moving means, and means set by the operation of parts in moving said head to initial engagement with the head to provide a connection between said single motor means and said toggle mechanism whereby said toggle mechanism may be actuated by operation of said single motor means to cause further actuation of said head and produce a iinal pressure between said head and bed, said toggle being moved toward straight line position by movement of said parts to cause initial engagement of said head and bed and then further moved toward straight line position after said operative connection is made between said toggle mechanism and said power unit, said connection including a bell crank operatively connected to said single motor means and movable to make an operating connection between said single motor means and said toggle by operation of the parts to move said head into initial engagement with said bed.

2. In a pressing machine embodying a work receiving bed and a pressing head normally in separated or full open position, operating mechanism for moving said head into pressing relation with said bed and for causing final pressure between said head and bed comprising a single motor means, a plurality of pivotally mounted integral arms including a head carrying arm and head moving arms of diiierent lengths having their axis of movement about the same point, means for exerting force on the shorter of said head movling arms to cause initial engagement of said head and bed, and means for effecting an operative connection between the longer of said head moving arms and said motor means during movement of said head into initial engagement with said bed whereby said last named head moving arm may be actuated by said single motor means to cause final pressing pressure between said head and bed.

3. In a pressing machine embodying a work receiving bed and a pressing head normally in separated or full open position, operating mechanism for moving said head into pressing relation with said bed and for causing a iinal pressing pressure between said head and bed comprising a single lmotor means, a plurality of pivotally mounted integral arms including a head carrying arm and head moving arms of different lengths having their axis of movement about the same point, one of said head moving arms being operatively connected with said motor means and another head moving arm normally having no operating connection with said power unit, means for exerting force on said first named head moving arm to cause initial engagement of said head and bed, and means for effecting an operative connection motor means during movement of said head into initial engagement with said bed whereby said second named arm may be actuated by said single motor means to causenal pressing pressure between said head and bed.

4. In a pressing machine, embodying a work receiving bed and a pressing head normally in separated or full open position, operating mechanism including a motor means directly connected with said head by a yielding connectionA for moving said head and bed into closed position, a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said head and being normally ineffective to move said head, and means set by the operation of parts in moving said head and bed to closed position to provide a connection between said motor means -and said toggle mechanism whereby said toggle may be actuated by said motor means to produce pressing pressure between said head and bed.

5. In a pressing machine embodying a work receiving bed and a pressing head normally in separated or full open position, said head being carried by a pivotally mounted arm, operating mechanism for moving said head and bed into closed position and for causing nal pressure between said head and bed including a motor means, a plurality of head moving arms of different lengths operatively connected with said head carrying arm, a direct connection between the shorter of said head moving arms and said motor means whereby said motor means may be eifective to move said head and bed to closed position, and means for effecting an operative connection between the longer of said head moving arms and said motor means by movement of said head and bed into closed position and operation of said motor means whereby said last named head moving arm may be actuated by said motor means to cause i'lnal pressure between said head and bed.

6. In a pressing machine embodying a work receiving bed and a pressing head normally in separated or full open position, said head being carried by a pivotally mounted arm, operating mechanism for moving said head and bed into closed position and for causing final pressure between said head and bed including a motor means, a plurality of head moving arms of different lengths operatively connected with said head carrying arm, a direct yielding connection between the shorter of said head moving arms and said motor means whereby said motor means may be effective to move said head and bed to closed position, vand means for eiiecting an operative connection between the longer of said head moving arms and said motor means by movement of said head and bed into closed position and operation of said motor means whereby said last named head moving arm may be actuated by said motor means to cause nal pressure between said head and bed.

'7. In a press cf the class described, the combination of coacting relatively movable pressing members and actuating mechanism therefor comprising, parts for closing the press, toggle mechanism associated with said parts, motor means and connections independent of any portion of the toggle for actuating said press closing parts, and means set by operation of said press closing parts to provide a connection between said motor means and said toggle mechanism, whereby said toggle mechanism may be actuated to apply final pressure.

8. In a press of the class described the combiist nation Vof relatively movable pressing members;

actuating mechanism for moving one of said members to-closed position and for applyingnal pressure comprising a :lever connected with the member, Ysaicl lever having a short arm and a longA arm rigidly connected therewith, a motor,

means for applying power from said motor tothe short arm for closing the press, and means for applying power from said motor to the long arm for applying nal pressure.

RICHARD J. JACKER. 

